The National tribune., 1887-09-01
PEACH TREE CREEK.
The Crossing OF the Twentieth Corps, July 10, Led
by the I49th N. Y.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In regard 10
the battle Of Peach Tree Creek, none of your
correspondents thus far whose cemmunica-
tons have seen seem to realize that any part
Of our army crossed the stream before the 10Th
OF July. In the forenoon of July -. 1864, the
Third Brigade, Second Division, Twentieth
Corps, reached Peach Tree Creek. The column
was halted and an examination made of the
banks and depth Of the stream, and it was de-
cided that il was impracticable TO ford it, A
spot was then selected where a little ravine
ran down 10 the creek, and a bridge was con-
structed. The Johnnies put in an appearance
on the opposite bank, and the 18th N. Y,
which was on the skirmish-line, kept up q
lively fire TO the left of where the bridge was
being built, TO keep their attention from the
bridge-builders tall il was completed.
When the bridge was finished our regiment
the l49th n. WAS ordered down into the ra-
vine, the colOrs aud color-guard were taken
out, and the regiment was ordered 10 cross as
skirmishers. This was quickly accomplished.
and as soon as the right wing of the regiment
was across, il was deployed As skirmishers, the
left following in close order as a reserve. We
had about 40 rods of cleared field TO cover be-
fore reaching the timber on the other side,
where the rebels were busy throwing up rifle
pits, and so rapid were cur movements that we
captured about dozen of their pickets before
they were aware of our presence on that side
of the creek. We also killed three, which they
left in our hands, besides what they carried
away with them. Our loss was two killed.
The rest of our brigade was Immediately sent
over aud was followed by the First aud Second
Brgades of our division. line of works was
thrown up across the strip of land in the bend
of the creek, aud our division spent the night
of the 18th on the south side of the stream.
On the morning of the 10th the Third Divis-
ion, Twentieth Corps, crossed and moved off
10 our left, and was followed 10y our First Di-
vision, which was moved TO the right. About
noon of the both our division was moved out
in front of the works they had constructed the
night before, to form on the right of the Third
Division, and it was while our division was
being got in position that the fighting CON-
menced. At our left, for long distance, we
could see our Third Divisions line hotly en-
gagged; the Johnnies swarming out of the
woods only TO be turned back by the whitening
fire of the Blue Stars. We soon had all we
wanted TO do in our own front. aud we were
not fully i'm position they had us for a few min
utes at disadvantage, but We soon turned the
tables on them, and by the time they had
tried the mettle of our gallant old First Divis-
ion they found they had important business
nearer Atlanta
Now. will some comrade of the Fourteenth
Corps who was there and knows, tell us when
and where the Fourteenth crossed the creek,
and where IL was engaged We heard at the
time that the Fourteenth was engaged on July
20, but / never knew where it crossed the
creek-whether at the place We crossed OF some-
where else. As far rs the Twentieth Corps is
concerned, know the l49th N. Y. was the first
regiment TO cross Peach Tree Creek. and that
il crossed not on the 10th but on the after
noon of the 18th, and it was Immediately fol-
lowed by the whole White Star Divisional.
L. Brown, Co. Ii, l49th N. Y, Cicero, n. Y.